Program of Events


Swarthmoor Hall offers a variety of organised events throughout out the year.
 
Our programme events offer a unique opportunity to stay at one of the sites central to early Quaker history, and participants have access to the historic rooms in the Hall.

It is usually possible to have an (optional) guided tour during the course of your stay.

For more information on an event please click more information for the event you are interested in. Events are listed in date order.
Swarthmoor Hall contact details available here

Payment details and Terms and conditions available here.

Event Name Start Date End date  
Swarthmoor Interfaith group 26 July 26 July More information
       

Swarthmoor Hall 2008 Programme

      More information
      More information
Beth Allen – Swarthmore lecture follow up event
 
24-26 Oct   More information
      More information
      More information
      TBA
      More information
Pilgrimage I FULL 16-19 June   More information
      TBA
Swarthmoor textiles Project -Patchwork Janice Alloway
 
30 Jun - 4 Jul   TBA
Mystics and Quakers - Harvey Gillman
Postponed to December
5 -7 Dec   TBA
Experiment with Light - Rex Ambler and Helen Meads
 
18-20 July   TBA
Pilgrimage II 11-14 August   TBA
Jam making - Bill Shaw
 
29-31 August   TBA
Retreat – "do nothing" - Marjorie Ball
 
12-15 September   TBA
QVA II
 
5-10 October   TBA
Regional Enquirer’s day
 
1 November   TBA
Book day – Eliz & Hugh Roberts
 
8 November   TBA
       

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Title: SWARTHMOOR INTERFAITH GROUP
Brief description: How to express in life what comes to the Quaker in silence.

Paul Milling has been a Quaker for many years and is a retire industrial chemist. His wife, Rachel, is a teacher.

With them we will explore how silent contemplation leads us to play an active part in the world and guides us with courage and sensitivity to raise awareness constructively, of the insanity of societies values of, and our selfish abuse of, our environment.

Date: 26 July 2008
 
With: Paul and rachel Milling
Description: 10.30 am arrivals and tea and coffee.

10.45  What can we do?

11.30   Contemplative silence

12.00   Emmaus Walk

12.30   Lunch to share

1.45     How can we do it?

2.30    Contemplative silence

3.00    Discussion

3.15    Tea and ends 

Start / end time 10.30 am  to 3.15 pm ending with tea.
Price: Suggested donation £10 and please bring lunch to share
Contact details: Michael Jackson
16 Old Market Place,
ALTRINGHAM, Cheshire.
WA14 4DD

0161-928-8111 e-mail: enquiries@whlill.co.uk

or Contact Swarthmoor Hall Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Ground and Spring
Brief description: Follow up weekend to Beth Allen's Swarthmore lecture

 

Date: 11 - 13 April
Postponed until 24-26 October

 

With: Beth Allen

 

Description:

In May 2007 Beth Allen gave the Swarthmore Lecture "Ground and Spring: Foundations of Quaker Discipleship".

This weekend will go deeper into some if the issues raised; in particular, we will look at the ideas of early Friends such as George Fox and Francis Howgill, and the work of Swarthmoor Hall in the early days and today, as both a solid foundation and a source of renewal for the Quaker movement.

There will be plenty of discussion and contributions from everyone present. 

 

Start / end time Starts at 4 pm on Friday with arrivals and tea and cake.
Ends after lunch on Sunday
Price:

£145 residential, £98 non-residential

Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here


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Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Enquirer's Weekend
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Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: 1652 Pilgrimage  FULL Waiting list or, try the August Pilgrimage
Brief description: A residential guided event for anyone who wants to learn about the early history of Quakerism and how it relates to our faith today.
Date: 16 -19 June
With: Guides from the 1652 Committee
Description:

An opportunity for people to join an organised pilgrimage and worshipping group, based at Swarthmoor Hall in the heart of the 1652 country.

The group will follow the journey of George Fox, when he came north in 1652 and recruited many people to the growing movement that is now the Religious Society of Friends.
We will visit Pendle Hill, Brigflatts Meeting House and Firbank Fell, the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal, Swarthmoor Hall and Sunbrick burial ground , where Margaret Fell is buried.

All the visits will be made by minibus, price included.

Start / end time Starts 4pm on Monday, with tea and cake. Ends after lunch on Thursday about 2.30pm.
Price: £200 - residential only
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Swarthmoor textiles project - Patchwork
Brief description: Continuing the work of creating new textiles for the historic rooms at the Hall.
Date: 30 June to 4 July
With: Janice Alloway
Description:

Continuation of the work for the Swarthmoor Textiles Project.

Come and work with others on seventeenth century style textiles to grace Swarthmoor Hall: be inspired by it’s peace and tranquillity as you practice traditional pursuits. This week is for all those who enjoy hand or machine sewing.

 

Start / end time Starts 4pm on Monday, with tea and cake. Ends after lunch on Friday about 2.30pm.
Price: £200 residential, £120 non-residential
Num places:  8
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Mystics & Quakers
Brief description: A weekend exploring the links between Quakerism and other mystical traditions, and our personal journeys.
Date: 5 - 7 December
With: Harvey Gillman
Description:

The Quaker way is one of responding to the divine within and living it out in the world. In this we have much to learn from, and share with, other mystical traditions.

This weekend will explore some of these links and will also address our own personal journeys through music, poetry, and worship sharing. 

Harvey Gillman, formerly outreach secretary of Britain Yearly Meeting, and Rowntree Quaker Fellow, has written widely on spirituality and language, and is a regular facilitator at Quaker and ecumenical weekends. He has also been involved in a spiritual direction network.

 

Start / end time Starts at 4 pm on Friday with arrivals and tea and cake.
Ends after lunch on Sunday
Price: £145 residential
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Experiment with Light    FULL (Waiting list)
Brief description: This weekend is for friends who want to deepen their Quaker experience by discovering what it means to ‘wait in the light’.
Date: 18-20 July
With: Rex & Catherine Ambler and Helen Meads
Description:

Our faith as Quakers is based on experience, rather than on authority or doctrine. But what is the experience? We shall consider first what the experience was at the beginning of our movement. We shall then undertake an experiment to see if that experience is still available to us.

Finally, we shall reflect on the significance of the light for our lives today. This can be a searching and powerful experience. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the Quaker experience, but also a surprising new insight into themselves.

 Rex Ambler has travelled widely among Friends giving talks & workshops on Quaker faith & practice. He has also written books on George Fox & Quaker spirituality.

 
Start / end time Starts at 4 pm on Friday with arrivals and tea and cake.
Ends after lunch on Sunday
Price: £145 residential only
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: 1652 Country Pilgrimage
Brief description: A residential guided event for anyone who wants to learn about the early history of Quakerism and how it relates to our faith today.
Date: 11-14 August
With: David Ball as Guide /Driver, and guides from the 1652 Committee.
Description:

An opportunity for people to join an organised pilgrimage and worshipping group, based at Swarthmoor Hall in the heart of the 1652 country.

The group will follow the journey of George Fox, when he came north in 1652 and recruited many people to the growing movement that is now the Religious Society of Friends.
We will visit Pendle Hill, Brigflatts Meeting House and Firbank Fell, the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal, Swarthmoor Hall and Sunbrick burial ground , where Margaret Fell is buried.

All the visits will be made by minibus, price included.

Start / end time Starts 4pm on Monday, with tea and cake. Ends after lunch on Thursday about 2.30pm.
Price: £200 residential only
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Jam Making
Brief description: Making jam with fruits from the Hall gardens and grounds.
Date: 29-31 August
With: Bill Shaw
Description:

The end of August is the beginning of the season of mellow fruitfulness.

Using organic raw cane sugar and the natural fruits from the gardens and grounds we can make jams and syrups and jellies! There will be teams of two people with their own kitchen and jam making equipment, as well as an opportunity to all work together.

We hope to make different preserves for the Hall larder. So, if you have favourite recipes for apple, blackberry, blackcurrent, damson, quince, or raspberry, bring them along.
There will be tuition and recipes to follow for those who want to learn.
Everyone can take samples home with them at the end of the weekend.

 
Start / end time Starts at 4 pm on Friday with arrivals and tea and cake.
Ends after lunch on Sunday
Price: £100 residential, £60 non-residential
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Retreat
Brief description: An opportunity to put your busy life and thoughts aside and "do nothing", or take part in quiet reflective activities
Date: 12-15 September
With: Marjorie Ball
Description:

An opportunity to take time out and relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Swarthmoor Hall.

Join in with a range of quiet activities or just “be”.

·       Sit out and read, watch the wildlife or meditate in the gardens and grounds.

·       Go for walks around Ulverston and the Furness peninsula.

·       Bring your bike and take the quiet back roads and explore the places many visitors to the Lakes miss.

·       Worship and worship sharing opportunities, as we grow into a supportive community.

·       Quiet room and alternative activity room.

Plus whatever else you would like to do. Contact the staff and see what can be arranged. 
start / end time Starts 4pm on Friday, with tea and cake. Ends after lunch on Monday about 2.30pm.
price: £195 residential only
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Work and Worship retreat
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Date: 5-10 October
With: Quaker voluntary Action
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Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Regional Enquirer's Day
Brief description: A day to find out more about Quakers and Quakerism
Date: 1 November
With: Local Quakers
Description:

An informal and friendly day for anyone wanting to find out more about Quakerism.

Meet Quakers and hear why, and how, they became members.

General discussion on worship, Advices and Queries, Testimonies and anything else you may wish to raise and have discussed.

 
start / end time 9.30am for tea and coffee, 10am start. Ends about 4/4.30 pm
price: £20 includes lunch and drinks.
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Title: Book day
Brief description: A chance to browse the old books in the Swarthmoor Hall collection. Lots of interesting old books written by Quakers and a good collection of old bibles and prayer books from 1541 onwards.
Date: 8 November
With: Elizabeth and Hugh Roberts
Description:  
start / end time 10am for tea and coffee, 10.30am start with the books.
Ends about 4/4.30pm
price: £25 includes lunch and drinks
Contact details: Contact Swarthmoor Hall - Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204. Details here

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Contact details:

Swarthmoor Hall,
Ulverston,
Cumbria
LA12 0JQ

Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204

e-mail: info@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Paying for an event:

Please see individual events.
Swarthmoor Hall is not in a position to offer bursaries. Please contact your local Meeting Overseers.

A £30 non-returnable deposit is required on booking, with remainder paid 4 weeks before the event.

If you have to cancel, refunds are as follows:
 

  • 4 weeks before the start of the event - full refund minus £30 non-returnable deposit.
  • 1- 4 weeks - 50% refund of total individual cost.
  • Less than 1 week - no refund can be given.



We can accommodate up to 16 people in single and twin-bedded rooms. Swarthmoor Hall is also available for groups of people who might wish to organise their own events - retreats, workshops - either on a self-catering or fully - catered basis. Some events may offer non-residential places.

When not taken up with programme events, the Hall welcomes bookings for our residential accommodation, which comprises three self-catering holiday units of five beds, five beds, and four beds. One of these units is suitable for wheelchair users.

We also have Bed & Breakfast for individuals or small groups when there is space available.

If you require any further details about the Programme or letting accommodation, please contact the staff at Swarthmoor Hall.

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